Manslaughter charges laid in North York shooting

Teen charged with manslaughter in Monday shooting

Police have charged a teenager with manslaughter after a 15-year-old boy was shot to death Monday, Feb. 11.

Police found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso at Turf Grassway home around 10:30 p.m.

He was taken to hospital where he died.

The victim’s name cannot be published under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police laid the charge Wednesday, Feb. 13 against a 17-year-old boy.

A man and another juvenile have also been charged but their charges are unrelated to the investigation.

None of those charged can be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Toronto Community Housing president and CEO Gene Jones issued a statement Tuesday, Feb. 12, noting the social housing provider is working closely with police in the investigation.

“We are deeply saddened by last night’s shooting,” the statement issued by Jones and board chair Bud Purves said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim and the residents of the Firgrove Crescent community. Toronto Community Housing is working closely with Toronto Police Service to assist them with their investigations. Staff are in the community working alongside the city’s crisis team to assist residents who require support. Acts of violence like this affect everyone in the community and the city. They remind us of the need to continue Toronto Community Housing’s work with the police, the city, local agencies, partners and our residents to find solutions to keep our communities safe.”

Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow also issued a statement Tuesday, calling on the federal government to improve employment opportunity for young people and implementation of the Youth Action Plan.

“Sadly, he is the third youth killed by guns in Toronto this year,” she said. “To prevent youth violence, we must do more. We can give hope and create more opportunities for youth. I call on the federal government to make the Canada Summer Jobs program year-round, and make the Youth Gang Program permanent instead of project based.

We can better support our police with a national witness protection program, and improve the markings on imported firearms so they can trace illegal guns. And we can implement Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling’s Youth Action Plan by putting more prosecutors in Ontario’s guns and gangs task-force and anti-gun-smuggling border initiative. We can reduce violent crime if we take action.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.